MONROVIA -– Opposition parties in Liberia on Saturday rejected as “flawed” election results released so far which put incumbent President Ellen Johnson Sirleafin the lead.

Supporters of Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who is also presidential candidate of the Unity Party (UP), cheer and hold posters of her during her campaign rally in Monrovia, October 9, 2011. REUTERS/Luc Gnago

Sirleaf, a 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate, had mustered 45.4 percent of the vote with more than half of polling stations tallied, according to an announcement from the National Elections Commission late Friday.

“We declare the results being reported by NEC as flawed and consequently declared null and void,” a joint statement from nine opposition parties said.

“We declare that all our party agents assigned at NEC in all capacities to withdraw effective immediately,” it also said.

The statement claimed there was “a calculated and deliberate act by NEC to rig these elections in favor of President Johnson Sirleaf and the Unity Party.”

“If the process continues we will not accept the results,” the statement also said, while calling on all supporters to attend “a mass meeting” on Sunday.

Liberian opposition rejects election results, claiming fraud

Former diplomat Winston Tubman stood second with 29.5 percent as of the Friday announcement. If Johnson’s support stays below 50 percent, she will lack the majority needed to avoid a run-off election.

Tubman’s Congress for Democratic Change party signed the statement, as did the National Union for Democratic Progress of former warlord Prince Johnson, who ranked third with 11.4 percent according to the Friday results.

The opposition move follows a fire overnight in offices of Sireleaf’s Unity Party in a Monrovia district. Police chief Al Karlay said it was not yet known if the blaze was deliberate.

With a run-off election looming, Johnson looked poised to become a surprise kingmaker.

Voter turnout stood at 70.2 percent with 585,179 valid votes counted. The elections commission reported a high number of 44,096 invalid votes.

The election, seen as key to cementing the country’s fragile eight-year peace after two back-to-back civil wars, was lauded as peaceful by the United Nations and African observers.

Tubman had alleged ballot stuffing, but election officials said no official complaint had been filed.

Observers from the Carter Center urged parties not to make any statements concerning the results until the process was complete.

The electoral commission has until October 26 to announce the final results.

International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo’s office in The Hague said Friday he was closely monitoring election-related developments.

“We will pay close attention to the actions and statements of the political class, and in particular to the presidential candidates, including after the elections.

“Resorting to violence will not be tolerated,” said a statement.

Sirleaf was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace prize just days before Tuesday’s vote, for her work in rebuilding the country and promoting women’s rights after the civil war in which some 250,000 people were killed.

While initially promising to serve only one term, the 72-year old grandmother has asked for more time to continue building the “broken country”.

Sirleaf has become a darling of the international community, charming creditors to write off billions of dollars in debt, and attracting investors in iron-ore and oil exploration in a bid to kickstart the nation’s shattered economy.

However unemployment rates of about 80 percent and extreme poverty mean the lives of many have not changed in the west African nation.

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AFP